Shear mechanism



sept. 14, 1937. F. L. o. WADSWORTH l 2,092,864

SHEAR MECHANI S M Original Filed Feb. 11, 1933 106 L 4 INVEN'roR ,f1-.1E97 105103 1m10 @www Patented Sept. 14,` 1937 siren STATES SHEARivmonANrsMv v Y. Frank L. 0. Wadsworth, Pittsburgh, Pa., assigner toBall Brothers Coin poration of Indiana Dany, Muncie,Y Ind., a. cor-.

original application February V11, 1933, serial No.

656,306. Divided and this application- December 9, 1933, Serial No. 2,1936 32 Claims.

This invention relates to a shear mechanism for severing a stream ofmolten glass into a Yseries of successive individual gobs or moldcharges and is a division of my copending application, Serial No.656,306, led Feb. 11, 1933.

One object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism forsevering a continuously flowing stream of molten glass into separatemold charges which will sever the stream without arresting itscontinuous flow and without subjecting it to any appreciable coolingeiiect during such cutting action.

Another object is to provide a novel type of high speed or super-speedshear mechanism which is adapted to effect the severance oi acontinuously flowing stream of molten glass in a very small fraction ofthe time usually required for such operation.

A further object is to provide an improved super-speed cutting mechanismin which the two shear blades revolve continuously in oppositedirections and are periodically projected into, and withdrawn, from thepath of the outflowing stream of glass to instantaneously cut offsuccesw sive moldcharges therefrom and deliver them to the receptacleson the forming machine.

Other special objects of the present invention will be rendered apparentto those skilled in this ait by the following description ofoneillustrative u form oi my shear mechanism that is depictedin theVaccompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation ofmy improved shearV mechanism, showing. its relation to the forehearth cia glass melting furnaceor tank;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken online II-II of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View showing a certain feature of my shearmechanism;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view similar to Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing another feature of my shearmechanism. y

In the drawing I have shown my improved shear mechanism attached to thebottom of the forehearth or boot 'I9 of a glass melting furnace or tank.'Ihe molten glass passes from the tank into the forehearth 'l and flowsvin a continuous stream through an orifice il in the bottom thereof. Theiiow of glass through the orice l! may be accelerated by an air bell orsegregation chamber 'i2 positioned above the orice and operated inkaccordance with the practice set forth in the` Y* parent application. Asthe stream of glass issues from the orice it is cut into successiveindi- 701,635.` Renewed March vidual mold charges by my improvedshearing mechanism 13 disposed beneath the forehearth l@ and mounted onthe angle posts (not shown) supportingthe forehearth on the furnace.

In the construction here shown the shearv mechanism 73 comprises twoshear blades 15--15 (which may be either of the straight blade, or ofthe usual notched blade, cats eye, form) are removably attached to twoarms 'l1 and 18 that are respectively keyed toa central vertical shafti9 and an outer tubular sleeve 80, which are mounted to revolveconcentrically in the bearing members Si and 82 of a U-shaped frame 83.The connected members, -l1-T9, and 16K-'|8-89 are continuously rotatedin opposite directions, at the same angular speed, Yby two bevel pinions85 and S6 (that are secured respectively to the shaft i9 and the sleevemember 89), and an interposed bevel gear 8l that is driven by the motor88.

:The member 83.which forms a common unit f' support lfor all of theabovedescribed elements of the shear mechanism-is adapted to rock, orswing, on a vertical trunnion member 99, that is carried by the openstem portion of a T-shaped frame 9|; and is provided with a forked arm-92 which is coupled, by the link 93, to the piston member 94 of acylinder 95 that is supported on thehead portion of this frame. Theoppositely extending side of the T head carries a valve box 96, in whichis V.mounted a reciprocable double piston valve, Hill-IUI that serves tocontrol the admission and exhaust of air to and from the cylinder 95,and the resultant angular movement ofthe shear supporting frame 83.'Ihis control is effected as follows:

.The front chamber of the valve box 96 is oonnected to thecompressed airline leading from a suitable source of supply to the air bell 12,through a pipe 91, and a suitable timer valve assembly (not shown) thatmay be actuated in any desired manner, such as by a cam on the main camshaft ofthe feeder. `A port 99 leads from this part of the box 9S to therear chamberY in which the pistonvalve elements IDU-IDI are located; anda second port and pipe connection |02 leadsfrom the central part of thischamber to the rear end of the cylinder 95. The piston valve chamber isalso provided with two exhaust ports |03 and |04 (see enlarged view ofFig. 4)-which are positioned on opposite sides of the head I9 |-and witha vent port |95 that is located in front of the. head |99. rIhe stem |06of the piston valve member, mil-49|, is reduced in diameter at Vthepoint where it enters the front chamber; and a disc valverelement |98 isslidably mounted on this reduced portion, and is normally held inopenposition (against the adjacent face of the front chamber of thevalve box) by the spring |09.

'Ihe lower part of the swinging frame support 83 is bored to receive apiston member H0 that is provided at its front end with an arm or lugIII, which forms a pivot support for a forked lever H2. The two arms ofthis lever are thickened or brought together, at their outer ends toform a narrow slot through which the piston valve stem |05 passes; andthis stem carries an adjustable collar H4 that is adapted to be engagedby the thickened ends of the lever arms. The upper arm of the lever H2carries a cam roller I I5, which is adapted to engage with'a cam disc H6on the bevel pinion Vv85, when the piston H0 is moved forward to theposition shown in Fig. 2.

The rear end of the piston (H0) cylinderis connected fto the port99 bythe passageways HB-I I9 -and |20, which are formed in the hub of theswinging frame 83 and thestationary trunnion supports andfi. The pistonH0 is normallyhel'd in itslretractedposition-with the cam roller I5 outof engagement with the camY dise vH6-by a spring |2'I; Vandan'adjustable stop member |22 is provided to ylimit its forwardmovement. A second spring |25 which is attached to the end of the forkedarm 92, serves to Vnormally hold the shear supporting frame 83 in thefull line position shown in Figs. l and 2; and in'this position the pathof movement of the shear blades 4vdoes not intersect the line of flow ofthe glass stream. i

When it is desired to effect a severing operation, compressed lair isadmitted to the line 91 bythe action of thetimer valve 98; but isprevented from reaching the cylinder by the piston valve head IUI,Vuntil the latter has been moved from :the position shown in Fig. 2to'that shown in Fig. 3. This movement-wrhich must be so timed that thecontinuously revolving shear blades meet and pass each other von theaxis of the owing stream-is effected by the pistonlever-'carn elements|I0| |2||5| I6. The admission of compressed air to the line 91, Vand thefront chamber of the valve Ybox Sii-and thence to the ports andpassageways 99--|20, etc-moves 'the piston -I |`0 forward and brings thecam roller H5 into 'contact with the-cam disc H5. vThe parts vare soarranged Vand adjusted that the lobe of this ycam--which is lrevolvingclockwise as viewed in Fig. 2-engages`the roller H5 at the time when thetwo shear blades have moved from the position Yshown in fulllines inFig. 1 (where the axis of one blade (15)-19, and the `axis of thejother`(ipe. 10) is in the plane II-Il) to the'crossing position indicated bythe dotted line 19-S; and when this en-` gagement occurs, the ulever H2is rocked to the right and moves the piston valve elements |`00|0| tothe fullline position of Fig. 3. This movement closes the exhaust port|03, andpermits the compressed air to pass from the port 99 to the port|02 and to the `rear of the piston 94. This immediately swings the shearframe assembly forwardlyuntil it meets the adjustable stop |21 on theframe 9|, and the next revolution of the shear arms will'cause the shearblades to meet and cross on the axis F (in the plane I-I) of theowingstream, and almost instantaneously sever'the latter. As indicativeof the verysh'ort`- interval 'requiredinthis cutting operation, let usassume-'as here Shownthat the vits'operative position; and this may beeffected in the following manner: The cam disc H6 is provided, on itslower side, 'with a pin or roller |30, andthe valve stemV |06 with anadjustable camblock `I3I; and these cooperating elements (IBB-I3!) ,areso positioned that as the shear blades meet and crossgon the axis F, thepin engages the block I3I and moves the valve elements '|00-I0`l to theleft and into the position shown in Fig. 4-this movement beingsufficient to also close the disc valve |08 against the pressure of thespring |09. This movement shuts off the ow of compressed air to the port99 and opens both Yof the yexhaust ports |03 and |04, thus permittingthe piston members 90 and H0 to be immediatelyV retracted, by the actionof the springs |25 and |2|. The valve elements |00- II--Ili' will,however, be held in their lastdescribed position, by the pressure of thecompressed air on the face of the disc valve |08, until the timer valveassembly acts to open the line 91 to the atmosphere; and when thisoccurs, the spring |09 will return the valve parts to their originalintermediate position (shown in Fig. 2) in readiness for the nextoperation.

It will be observed that the advance and the retraction of the shearblade assembly-to carry the line of movement of the blades into and awayfrom the path of the Yilowing stream-is not dependent upon any exactsetting or adjustment of the timer valve mechanism, but is controlledand determined (after the timer valve is actuated to admit compressedair to the Aline 91) by the rotation of the shear arms themselves; and-that any slight irregularities or momentary changes either in theaction of the timer valve cam, or in the speed of the motor 88, cannot.

sensibly -aifect the interval between successive severing operations, orthe establishment of a proper registration between the rotary and thetransverse movements of the cutting elements.

Since the blades of my improved superspeed shear mechanism are revolvingcontinuously, and must `ofcourse cross each other twice in eachrevolution, it is desirable to avoid bringing them into wiping Ycontactexcept atf such times as they are engagedrinsevering the glass stream. Iaccomplish this object by interposing a light spring |35 between theadjacent faces of the arms -11 and'18'(see enlarged view of Fig. 5), andby providing abeveled end arm |36, which is supported by the frame 9|,and which extends out to such a position that when the frame 83 is swungIforward to cutting position the end of this arm engages the coned orrounded extremity of the shaft 19 and presses the upper shear blade arm`1'| down against the lower arm 18;- the shear blajdes themselves beingso shaped and so adjusted (as shown in Fig. l) that the cutting edgeswillvthenfride up on each other, at the instant of crossing, and eiect aclean sharp unmarked severance of the molten material.

I desire itto be-understood that I have devised various shearingstructures and various shearing procedures for severing a continuouslyflowing stream of molten glass to produce well formed mold charges inwhich rotating shear from said outlet, and means dependent on the bladesare moved into the stream to effect the severance and that suchmechanisms and procedures form the subject matter of and are claimed incopending-applications for patent and structurally and functionallydistinguish from the features herein claimed. Y

The mechanical structure which isxherein il-l lustrated-and described isonly one of many which I have designed for practicing my invention andwith the present disclosure as a guide those skilled in thisart canreadily devise other forms of construction which will .embody the wholeor part of the improvements which Aare defined in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A glass feeder shear mechanism comprising two shear blades, amechanism for continuously rotating the blades, means formoving saidrotating blades toward and away from a cutting position during their.rotation, and means dependent on the position in its rotation o f lonesuch blade for controlling the operation of vsaid first mentioned means.

2. In combination with a glass feeder having a glass delivery outlet,apair of shear blades for cutting charges of glass from glass issuingfrom the outlet, a mechanism for rotating the blades, means for movingsaid blades toward and position of one of said blades during itsrotation for controlling the operation of said rst mentioned means.

3. In combination with a glass feederV having a glass delivery outlet, apair o-f shear blades for cutting charges .of glass from glass issuingfrom the outlet, a mechanism for rotating the blades, means for movingsaid blades toward and from said outlet, and means dependent on theposition of said blades with relation to such outlet for moving oneblade intoY cutting engagement with the other.

4. In combination with a glass feeder, having a glass delivery outlet, apair of shear blades for cutting charges of glass issuing from saidoutlet, a mechanism for continuously rotating said shear blades, meansfor movingsaid blades toward and from said outlet during theirrotation,means dependent on the relative positions of such blades during theirrotation for controlling the operation oi said rst mentioned means,means for normally holding said blades out of engagement with eachother, and means dependent on the position of saidblades with relationto such outlet for moving such blades into cutting engagement.

5. A shear mechanism comprising a pair of blades, coaxial mountingdevices for such blades, a mechanism for rotating such blades inopposite directions so that they pass each other twice in eachrevolution, means for moving said blades toward and away from a cuttingposition and means actuated by the rotation of one of said blades forcontrolling the operation of said rst mentioned means.

6. A shear mechanism comprising two blades, coaxial mounting devices forsuch blades, a mechanism for rotating such blades in opposite directionsabout a common axis, means for moving said blades during their rotationtoward a cutting position, a control device for said last mentionedmeans, and means rotating with one such blade for actuating said controldevice.

'7. A shear mechanism comprising two blades, coaxial mounting devicesfor such blades, a mechanism for rotating such blades in oppositedirections about a common axis, means ffo'r moving such blades-towardand awayfrom a cutting position during their rotation, and meansdependent on the Yrotation of at least one of said blades for initiatingboth movements of said rst mentioned means. l.

8. A Ashear apparatus comprising two blades Vrotatably mounted on alcommonA axis, a mechsition during their rotation, and means actuated bysaid mechanism for controlling the operation of said means. y

10. A shear apparatus comprising two coaxially mounted blades, amechanism for rotating said blades in opposite directions,instrumentalities for moving said blades toward and away from a cuttingposition during their rotation, and rotating means for controllingtheoperation of said instrumentalities. l

11. A method of cutting.moldchargeslfrom a suspended mass of moltenglass bymeansof two oppositely moving shear blades, which consists inrotating such blades in opposite directions, moving said blades toadvance the point of intersection of the blades into the axis of the`mass and timing. such movement of said blades lbyl their y rotation.

l2. A method of operating two opposedshear blades out of contact, onewith the other, moving such blades: into a cutting position .duringtheir rotation and causingjs'a'idblades tocontactone with the otherVwhile inV such cutting position.

13. A method of operating two opposed shear blades, which consists incontinuously rotating such blades in opposite directions while holdingthem out of contact with each other, moving such blades into a cuttingposition during'the period intervening between the passing offsaidblades, and causing such bladestorcontact one with the other in passingeach other at the cutting position, then withdrawing said blades fromthe cut,- ting position and causing them to move apart so that they donot contact on passing.

v14. A shear apparatus comprising shear blades rotatably mounted on` acommon axis, a mechanism for continuously rotating said blades, aninstrumentality for holding said blades out of contactduring suchrotation, means for swinging the axis through an arc to move ksaidblades toward and awayfroma cutting positionvduring their rotation aboutsuch axis, a rotating device for controlling the operation of saidmeans, and means for moving said blades into contact as they pass eachother at thecutting position.

15. A shear V.apparatus Vcomprising a pair of coaxially mounted shearblades, mechanism for rotating said blades in opposite directions, meansY for swinging the common mounting of said blades through an arcto movethe shear'blades toward and away from cutting position, aninstrumentactias they 4.crossv each other when the 'axis off said bladesisdn :one position, and means `for causingssaidlblades to .contact onewithithe other as they .cross :each lother when Yfthe common mountingofsaid blades is moved ,to its other position. V

a6. l'A shear r'apparatusicomprising a movable frame, shear .bladesrotatively mounted on ,said frame, .mechanism for rotating Esaid .:blades, and means for swinging said frame to lmove said blades toward andaway fromcutting position.

117. A shear apparatus .comprisinga' `frame, a pair :of -shear bladesVmountedlnn .said frame, means for rotatingsaid blades, means for actu-`ating said frameto move saideblades ftoward and aWay fromcuttingxposition andmeans dependent on the positionof saidbladesforcontrolling the operation lof Asaid :frame actuating .means 18.-A -shear apparatus Icomprising a frame, shear `blades rotatably`mounted on a .common axisin said fframameans for rotatingsaid bladesV inopposite directions, means for oscillating said frameto move saidbladestoward andaway from cutting position, means for holding said.blades out of contact as they crosseach other when the frame is at oneend'of its travel and means Afor causing-said blades-to contact astheycross each other when the fra-meis at the other end of its travel.

19. `A shear apparatus comprising a frame, shear blades Amounted on saidframe, means for rotating said blades, means for oscillating said frameto move said blades toward and away from cutting position, means forholding said yblades out of contact as they cross-eachother when'theframe is at one'end of 'itstraveL means f'for causing said blades tocontact as they cross eachother when the Aframe is at -the/ other-end of`its Atravel and means actuatedby-the'rotation of-said blades forcontrollingthe operation-of said frame oscillating means. v

20. A shear mechanism comprising Aa frame, shear blades coaxially`mounted in Asaid fframe, means 'for icontinuously yrotating'- saidblades to move said blades`across"each"-`other in cutting relation, andmeans depending upon the rotation of said blades for oscillating saidframe to move the blades into and out-of lcutting position, includin'gavrotating member associated with said blades, and means periodicallymovable into contact With said member for controlling theoperation ,ofsaid Vframe swinging means.

21. A shear mechanismcomprising afmovable frame, n. shear bladesrotative'ly `mounted-on said frame, means for continuously rotating saidblades, and means dependent upon the rotation of said blades foroscillatingsaid frameto move the blades into and out of cuttingposition, including `a rotatingmember associated with said blades, acontrol member for said frameroscillating means, and means forperiodically -moving said control member into position to be operated bysaid rotating member. Y

22.7A shear mechanism comprising -a frame, shear blades rotativelymounted in said frame, means ,for continuously rotating said blades, andmeansdependent upon the rotation of said blades foroscillatingsaid'frameto move theblades into and out Voi" cuttingposition, including-a rotating cam member associated with said `blades,acontrol `member Yfor said'frame oscillating 'means andmeansforperiodically moving said control member into position to beactuated by said rotating cam member.

23. A shear mechanism comprising a frame, a

Pair `of 'shear blades rotatively mounted on said frame, Vmeans forcontinuously vrotating said blades, a rotating cam member associatedwith Said blades, pressure responsive mechanism for swinging said `frameto move-theblades into cutting position, a valve-controlling theoperation of said pressure responsive mechanism, an operating. memberfor said valve, and means for periodically :moving said v alve operatingmember into .position to be operated by said cam member.

24. A .shear lmechanism comprising a frame, shear iblades rotatively-mounted in said frame,

vmeans Afor continuously rotating said blades, va

rotating cam member associated with 'said blades, pressure responsivemechanism iorswinging said irameto move the blades into cuttingposition, avalvecontrolling ,the operation of the pressure responsive.mechanismen operating member for said valve, means for .periodically:moving said valve operating member .into position to be actuated byrsaid cam member, and means operable after -thelbladeshave crossed incutting position for returning the frame toits normal position.

25. A `shear mechanism comprising a frame, shear blades rotativelymounted in said frame, means for .continuously rotating said blades, arotating -cam associated With said blades, pressure Yresponsivemechanism for swinging said frame to :movethe blades into ,and out ofcutting fpositioma valve for controlling the operation `of said pressureresponsive mechanism, dual members for controlling ,the operation ofsaid valve, means for periodically moving one of said valve controlmembers :into lposition to be operatedjby .said cam-to operate saidvalve and actuate said irame swinging mechanism, ,and means carriedbysaid cam Amember for actuating the other `of said control members tooperate the valve1and permit the lframe to be returned t0 its normalposition.

26. A shear mechanismcomprising a frame, shear blades rotatively mountedin said frame, means for :continuously .rotating said blades, means foroscillating said frame to move the blades into andout of :cuttingposition, including a rotating `member associated with said bladesfacontrol member afor said frameV oscillating means, Yand means for movingsaid control `member into a position =to be operated by Y said -rotatingfmember, Smeans :for holding said blades out of contact as they crosseach .other whenthe frame is at one end of its travel, and means -formoving said blades into cutting engagement as theylcroiss eachother inthe cutting position.

2'7. A method of A.cutting a succession of `mold charges from asuspended mass of molten glass, which comprises continuously rotating apair of opposed blades so that thecuttingedges thereof pass each otherat least-once during eachY revollution of one-such blade, moving saidblade VWhile rotatingito bring the point of their crossing into theconnes of said mass, and'timing such movement by Athe rotationof onesuch blade.

12,8. A method of cutting a succession of mold charges -fromasuspendedmass of molten glass, which consists .in continuously Yrotatinga. pair ofv opposed blades so .that they pass each other at -leastonce-during.each revolutionof one such blade, normally :holding the-cutting edges of such blades .out of contact as `such blades pass each.other :during ft-heir rotation, periodically moving such blades while:rotating to bring the point of their `crossing Within :the connes ofsaid mass and concurrently bringing such blades into contactrelationship.

29. A method of cutting a succession of mold charges from a suspendedstream of molten glass, Which consists in continuously rotating a pairof blades so that their cutting edges pass each other at least onceduring each revolution of one of said blades, and periodically movingsaid blades during their rotation, so that each such blade moves throughthe axis of such stream.

30. A method of cutting a succession of mold charges from a suspendedstream of molten glass, which consists in rotating a pair of 0pposedblades so that their cutting edges pass each other at least once duringeach revolution of one such blade, moving said blades While rotatingtoward said stream and causing the cutting edges of the same to passeach other once Within the connes of such stream to sever the same andthen moving such blades away from such stream While continuing theirrotation.

31. A method of severing a suspended stream of molten glass into asuccession of mold charges,

Which consists in rotating a .pair of opposed blades so that theircutting edges pass each other at least once during each rotation ofone'such blade, moving such blades While continuing their rotation so asto shift the center of rotation of each blade and cause thepassage ofthe edges of such blades to occur Within the connes of such stream,moving the blades While rotating so as to shift the center of rotationof each blade and cause the paths of travel of each blade to clear suchstream, and timing the shifting of the center of rotation of said bladesby the rotation of one such blade. y 1

32. A shear mechanism Vcomprising Vopposed shear blades each mounted forrotation, means for rotating said blades so that theirv cutting edgespass each other at least once during each revolution of one such blade,means for shifting the position of said blades during their rotationtoward and from a mass tobe severed, and means controlled by therotation of one such blade for controlling the operation of said bladeshifting means. FRANK L. O. WADSWORTH.

